Roofing structure



Oct. 18, 1938.

E. TAL MAGE ROOFING STRUCTURE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 10, 1936 I Jm EVERETT TALMA m, GE,

Patented Oct. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROOFING STRUCTURE Everett Talmage, Sabina, Ohio Application July 10, 1936, Serial No. 89,948 15 Claims. (01. 108-17) This invention relates to roofs and in particular to metal roofs.

It is an object of this invention to provide a roof which may be applied in sections and which will be self-draining, both at the surface and at the joints.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a roof, in which the connection of the sections will be sufliciently tight to prevent the entrance of moisture, snow and dirt and which may be quickly and simply applied and easily removed as to have a high salvage value.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a sectional roof which will have the maximum firmness of attachment, both of the sections to one another and of the roof to its support with the minimum of nails.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a roof which will produce dead air 20 spaces between the respective sections or plates and the roof support.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a roof joint which will prevent the leakage of water by capillary attraction by the inter- 25 position of a plurality of air spaces in the path of the water.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a roof in which the nails used'for attachment of the respective sections to the 30 roof support are covered by the overlapping of adjacent sections and thus unexposed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a roof wherein all exposed joints between the sections comprise sharp edges held in 35 contact with plane surfaces by the resiliency of the material of which the respective sections are formed.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a section or plate having secured thereto 40 a connecting pin adapted to cooperate with a suitable aperture in an adjacent section to rigidly secure these sections together as well as to lock them into secure engagement with two other adjacent sections.

4.5 It is a further object of this invention to provide in such a section integrally formed downwardly directed gutters with surfaces disposed in a plurality of planes which, in addition to providing an air space between the edges of adja- 50. centsections for the prevention of leakage by capillarity, will provide drainage gutters for the purpose of directing collected or condensed water downwardly to the surface of the section therebelow, whereby it will be drained from the roof.

55 It is a f rthe Obj t f this invention to pro vide in such a section a locking pin adapted to cooperate with a suitable aperture in an adjacent section, and to have a wedging or camming action whereby to securely force the edges of the joints together and to retain them in such engagement 5 regardless of contraction and/or expansion of the roof due to changes in temperature.

It is a further object of this invention to provide utmost ease in the assemblage of the sections. 10

These and other advantages will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a typical roof portion showing four complete sections attached together;

Figure 2 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a partial sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view showing a modified form of connecting or locking pin; and Figure 5 is a perspective view showing the engagement of three of the sections illustrated in Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a partial section, similar to Figure 3, of the modification shown in Figure 4, as taken along the line designated 6-6.-

Referring to the drawings in detail, the respective sections or plates have been designated A, B, C and D respectively. These sections are identical. Each section has a body portion I which is substantially planar. The sections are each provided at their extreme upper corner with a boss 2 which terminates outwardly in an extension 3 and which boss 2 is adapted to support the securely attached connecting pin or locking pin 4 which extends through aligned apertures 2a and 2b in the boss 2 and which has 40 its upper or rear end disposed in the recess 20 of the boss 2. The forward or lower pointed end of the pin 4 projects forwardly or downwardly beyond the inner or forward sloping surface of the boss 2, as shown particularly in Figure 3. Each pin 4 fits tightly in the apertures 2a and 2b and is frictionally held in position therein by reason of the inherent resiliency of the body material of the plate or section. The inner portion of the boss has a downwardly sloping surface 5.

The upper edges of the sections adjacent the boss 2 on opposite sides thereof are provided with an outer elongated boss or corrugation 6 and an inner elongated boss or corrugation 'l spaced from and disposed inwardly of the corrugation 6. The upper end of the outer corrugation 6 extends into the extension 3 which terminates in a downward prong 3a which is preferably sufficiently sharp to penetrate the surface of the roof support. If it is desired, however, this prong may be bent inwardly under the body of the section. In any case, the flanges on the upper side edges will space the surface of the plate from the roof support. The lower end of the corrugation terminates in the bent-up surface 8 at the corner of the plate or section. The upper end of the inner corrugation I extends into the upper portion of the corrugation 6 adjacent but spaced from the boss 2. A groove 9 is thus formed between the upper inner surface of the corrugation l and the adjacent side of the boss 2. The lower end of the inner corrugation l is preferably tapered and terminates adjacent a lower side of the plate or section.

A .groove or gutter having sloping sides and an upper end portion is formed between the corrugations 6 and I and is designated 0. The two lower diagonal sides of the plateor section are substantially straight and terminate in the lower locking flange or connecting flange II which is provided with a transverse stepped portion I2. Formed substantially centrally of the vertical part of the transverse stepped portion I2 is an aperture I3 which is adapted to cooperate with the locking pin 4 of the next lower adjacent plate or section.

The edges of the respective plates or sections are provided with downwardly extending lips or flanges I4 which extend around the border of the plate or section from substantially adjacent the extension 3 of the boss 2 to the flattened portions I5 adjacent the looking or connecting flange II. The flattened portions I5 cooperate with the surface I of the adjacent plate .or section to provide apertures 15a for the escape of collected moisture from the grooves or gutters I adjacent thereto. The corrugations 6 are provided with suitably located holes or apertures I6 which are adapted to accommodate nails or the like, which are used to secure the plates or sections to the roof support.

In Figure 4, I have illustrated a modified form of connecting pin or locking pin which is designated 4a and which is applied to a plate or section construction similar to that shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, and described above, save for the provision in the boss 2 thereof of pairs of suitably aligned and spaced apertures 2a and 2b (as shown in Figures 4 and 6) for receiving the parallel pin portions of the U-shaped, or staple shaped, locking pin 4a. It is, of course, to be understood that when a locking pin of such form is used, a pair of apertures I3a will be suitably located in the vertical part of the stepped portion I2 of the respective plates or sections.

As shown in Figure 2, the cooperation of the corrugations 6 and l with the under surface of the body portion I of the adjacent plate forms two air spaces and two drainage gutters for the drainage of moisture. As is also shown in Figure 2, the lip or flange I4 of the plate D has substantial line contact with the upper surface of the body portion I of the adjacent lower plate B.

With reference particularly to Figure 3, it will be seen that the downwardly extending extremity of the extension 3 will cooperate with the roof support to secure the respective plates or sections in position. This action is enhanced by the fact that the plates are placed in tension when locked together by the inclined surface of the connecting pin or locking pin 4.

With reference particularly to Figure 1, it will be seen that the corner portions 8 and corrugations 6 and I with their interposed groove or gutter ID of the plates or sections C and D are entirely covered by the plate or section A. The nails or the like which extend through the holes or apertures I6 cooperate with the connecting pins 4 to place the entire plate A under tension whereby to secure the connecting flange II and the lips or flanges I4 thereof into secure engagement with the surfaces of plates or sections B, C

and D. The entire surface of the plate A is inclined and the inherent resiliency of the plate or section tends to retain the lips or flanges II and I4 in engagement with the respective planar surfaces regardless of the expansion or contraction of the plates due to temperature changes.

Moisture collecting between the lower edge portions of the plate or section A and the respective plates or sections 3, C and D will drain downwardly through the grooves or gutters provided between the corrugation I and the lip or flange I4 and between the corrugation I and the corrugation 6. This moisture is enabled to escape through the aperture provided between the plate or section A and the plates or sections C and D by the flattened portions I of the plate or section A. The cooperation of the inclined surface of the pin 4 with the aperture I 3 securely locks the plates A, B, C and D together and secures the respective lips or flanges I4 and the connecting flanges II in engagement with the respective supporting plane surfaces.

The nails, tacks or the like inserted through the holes or apertures I6 in the respective plates serve to lock the corner portions 8, which are bent slightly upwardly, securely downwardly on the supporting surfaces thereunder provided by the next lower plate. With reference to Figure 3, it may be understood that the sections are drawn downwardly by the nails in the apertures I6 and by the pin 4 which bends each section over the boss 2 of the plate next below to retain the section under tension.

With reference particularly to Figures 1 and 2, it will be noted that there are three points of contact between the plate or section B- and the adjacent plate or section D at their overlapping sides. The same is true of the other plates or sections. Likewise, the lip or flange I4 of each upwardly disposed side has substantial line contact with the roof support, as does the abovedescribed extremity of the extension 3 of each plate. This provides for the utmost efficiency in securing the respective plates upon the roof support because of the'substantial line contact of the respective plates with the roof. This is, of course, enhanced by the fact that due to the action of the inclined surfaces of the locking pins 4 and the particular shape of the respective sections, these sections are constantly held under tension which constantly urges the respective lips or flanges and the respective projections of the extensions 3 downwardly against the roof support. Due to the extremely efficient locking action accomplished by means of pins 4, an extremely large roofing surface may be laid with the use of nails only on the-lowest line and the uppermost line of plates or sections.

Removal of the roof is extremely easy and may be aocomplished'by pulling the nails or tacks in the uppermost line of sections, as for instance A,

and then sliding these sections downwardly whereby to remove the aperture I3 therein from the locking pin 4. This procedure may be continued until the entire roof is removed. This greatly facilitates the operation of salvage, and the attachment of the sections or plates is such that they may be removed and used over and over again. Likewise, a portion of the roof may be removed and a single plate or section replaced when such replacement may become necessary.

When the modified form of locking pin is used, a substantially tighter joint is achieved due to the fact that there is twice as much locking surface as when a single type of locking pin is used. Furthermore, there is no tendency for the locking pin 4a to move downwardly with respect to its supporting boss or to the left, as shown in Figure I, when a superposed plate or section is removed therefrom.

It will thus be seen that I have produced a roof structure which may be applied to a roof support with the utmost ease and which may be likewise removed with equal facility. Furthermore, the utmost insulating value is achieved by the provision of air spaces underneath the respective plates or sections. Another extremely advantageous feature is that the resiliency of the material from which the respective plates or sections are fashioned is utilized to the utmost to retain the respective lips or flanges in knife-edge engagement with their respective plane surfaces regardless of expansion and/or contraction of the respective sections during changes of temperature.

It is likewise to be noted that my roof construction presents a surface which is extremely free from projections or obstructions, which facilitates the application of coverings by the use of paints or the like and that the utmost efiiciency of coverage is achieved due to the fact that the overlapping portions are made to accomplish multiple functions. Likewise, foreign matter such as leaves, etc. will not collect on the roof surface due to the elimination of retaining cracks, ridges, projections and/or other rough surfaces.

It will be understood that the above described structure is merely illustrative of structure by which my invention may be carried out and that I desire to comprehend within my invention such modifications as come within the scope of the claims and the invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a roof construction, a plurality of resilient non-planar plates having overlappingly engageable marginal flanges and having at opposite corners'complementary interlocking means including interpenetrating pins and complementary apertures adapted when interengaged to bend the flanges of said plates and interlock four adjacent plates together under tension.

2. In a roof construction, a plurality of overlapping resilient non-planar plates having complementary overlappingly engageable flanged edges and complementary interlocking means including interpenetrating pins adapted when in engagement to bend said plates and secure four adjacent overlappingly engaged plates together with their flanged edges retained in engagement with overlapped surfaces of adjacent overlapped plate edges.

3. In a roof construction, a pair of resilient plates having complementary overlapping flanged edges engageable to secure adjacent plates against relative lateral movement, said plates being non-planar and having interengaging means adapted to lock said plates together under tension to retain said flanges by the tension of the plates in engagement with overlapped surfaces of adjacent plates, said interengaging means comprising an aperture in one plate and a pin frictionally attached to the other plate and adapted to be received by said aperture.

4. In a roof construction, a plurality of overlapping resilient plates having flanged edges overlappingly engageable to prevent relative lateral movement between. adjacent overlappingly engaged plates, said plates being non-planar and provided with cooperating means comprising apertures and engaging pins engageable to lockthe flanged edges in engagement with overlapped surfaces of adjacent plates by the inherent resiliency of the plates.

5. In a roof construction, a plurality of diagonally disposed overlapping resilient plates having flanged edges, some of said edges being provided with paired corrugations forming gutters, said plates being non-planar and provided With cooperating pin and aperture means at diagonally opposite corners engageable to resiliently lock overlapping flanged edges in engagement with overlapped surfaces of adjacent plates inwardly of the gutters.

6. In a roof construction, a plurality of overlapping resilient plates having flanged edges, some of said edges being provided with paired corrugations forming gutters, said plates being non-planar, and cooperating pin and slot means on said plates engageable to resiliently lock the flanged edges in engagement with overlapped surfaces of adjacent plates inwardly of the gutters, each of said plates being provided at its lower portion with means adapted to provide drains for the gutters covered by the plate.

7. In a roof construction, a plurality of over-- lappingly engageable resilient plates each having a marginal flange with an aperture at one corner and a penetratingly attached pin at the diagonally opposite corner, each of said pins being adapted for interpenetrating engagement with adjacent plates to force the apertured flange of an overlapping plate against a surface of the overlapped plate to lock the plates together under tension.

8. In a roof construction, a plurality of overlappingly engageable marginally flanged resilient plates each having complementary means at diagonally opposite corners, each of said means comprising a pin penetratingly attached to one plate and a complementary aperture in' another plate, said pin being in interpenetrating engagement with the adjacent plates locking overlappingly engaging marginal surfaces of four adjacent plates together under tension.

9. Ina roof construction, a plurality of diagonally arranged plates having flanges on the upper side edges engageable with a roof support and flanges on their lower side edges engageable with complementary surfaces of adjacent laterally disposed overlapped plates to prevent relative lateral movement therebetween, each of said plates having at its lower corner aperture means adapted to cooperate with penetrating double pin means on the overlapped upper corner of an adjacent plate to secure the flanges and cooperating surfaces of four adjacent plates together.

10. In a roof construction, a plurality of overlappingly engageable diagonally arranged resilient plates having flanges on their upper side edges adapted to engage a roof support, a prong at their upper corners adapted to engage said roof support, and flanges on their lower side edges engageable with surfaces of adjacent overlapped plates to secure overlapped plates against relative lateral movement, each of said plates having integrally formed in its lower corner means adapted to cooperate with a pin in the upper corner of an adjacent plate to secure the cooperating overlappingly engaged surfaces of four plates together under tension.

11. In a roof construction, a plurality of diagonally arranged plates having flanges on their upper side edges engagealole with a roof support and flanges on their lower side edges overlappingly engageable with complementary surfaces of adjacent overlapped plates to prevent relative lateral movement therebetween, each of said plates having a double pin at its upper corner engageable with apertures in the lower corner of an overlapping adjacent plate to secure the overlapping flanges and complementary overlapped surfaces of four adjacent plates together.

12. In a roof construction, a plurality of diagonally arranged plates having cooperating interlocking means at their upper and lower corners, said plates having flanges formed on each upper edge engageable With a roof support and flanges on each lower edge overlappingly engageable with complementary overlapped means on an adjacent plate, said interlocking means comprising a pin supported on one plate -engageable with an aperture in another overlapping plate to secure the overlapping edge portions of four adjacent plates together.

13. In a roof construction, a plurality of diagonally arranged plates having cooperating interlocking means at their upper and lower corners, said plates having flanges formed on each edge, said interlocking means comprising a plurality of apertures in one plate and cooperating penetrating means on the other plate adapted to secure the overlapping edge portions of the plates together.

14. In a roof construction, a plurality of diagonally arranged overlappingly engageable resilient plates having cooperating interpenetrating means between the upper and lower corners of adjacent plates, said plates having gutters formed adjacent their upper side edges and flanges formed on each edge, the flanges of the lower edge portions of said plates covering the gutters of adjacent plates, and said interpenetrating means comprising pin means penetratingly secured to one of saidplates and cooperating aperture means on the other plate penetratingly receiving said pin to urge the flanges of the overlapping plates against surfaces of the overlapped plates to secure the overlapping edge portions of four plates together under tension.

15. Locking means for securing a pair of adjacent resilient roof plates together comprising a tapered pin penetratingly attached to one plate and frictionally secured thereto by the inherent resiliency of the plate material and a cooperating aperture in the other plate.

EVERETT TALMAGE. 

